Aside from death- heat stress causes a rise in body temperature and heart rate, loss of concentration and difficulty in focusing on a task, irritability and/or sickness, little or no desire to drink anything, fainting – and then of course death! Heat is nothing to fool around with as it takes many lives each year.

If someone obviously has one or more of these symptoms it’s possibly heat stroke: call for help and then get the person to a shady or cool place. If you can soak the victim’s clothing with cool water and fan him or her vigorously to increase cooling.

Heat exhaustion results from not drinking enough replacement fluids. It can cause weakness, fatigue, giddiness, nausea, or headache. The skin is clammy and moist while body temperaature is slightly elevated. Get the victim to a cool place and let him or her rest and have a drink of water or an electrolyte solution such as Gatorade. That restores potassium and salt. In severe cases the victim may vomit or pass out. Call for help – don’t be afraid it’s “not serious enough”. It could be a matter of life!

Heat cramps are painful spasms of the muscles and are caused by loss of salt in the body. Get the victim to drink Gtorade or anything that is an electrolyte solution. Seek medical attention in the case of severe cramping.

Heat can cause you to faint! Don’t know if you knew it or not, but when I had a severe muscle spasm in my back (cause unknown) – I fainted – and I broke my leg! Be careful and prevent any heat related problems BEFORE they happen. If someone faints try to get the victim on they back. When consciousness is regained the victim should recover after a brief period of walking around slowly.

A heat rash can be extensive and can be complicated by infection. Heat rash can be so uncomfortable that sleep is disrupted. It can even impede performance of any task and can result in a temporary total disability. If someone has heat rash, place the victim in a cool place and allow the skin to dry.

BE SURE TO WEAR SUNSCREEN. YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR BODY, THE BODIES OF YOUR KIDS, YOUR GRANDMA’S FRAGILE BODY. EVEN IF ONLY IN THE SUN FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME PLEASE PROTECT YOURSELF. ALWAYS TRY TO TAKE WATER (IN A SMALL ICE CHEST IT CAN STAY COOL).

BE SAFE. HAVE FUN AND GOD BLESS!